Mechanical musical instrument



(No Model.)

G. H. IRELAND. Mechanical Musical Instrument.

No. 231,323. Patented Aug. 17,1880.

#204 MflM. a 54 -PETERS. PHOTO LTHOGRAPHER UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEO GEORGE H. IRELAND, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,323, dated August 17, 1880. Application filed April 2, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. IRELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, county of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of mechanical musical instruments known as toy instruments; and my object is to provide an amusing toy, and one which will assist children in the study of notation.

I attain the above object by the construction and use of the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of my instrument. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partlyin section, with a portion of the side broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pin-board.

The musical instrument which I use in connection with my mechanical devices is one commonly called the dulcimer, and is represented in the drawings by A. A series of properly-adapted strings maybe substituted for the dulcimer.

I secure the dulcimer 0n the top of a suitably-constructed frame, B, on the top of which I secure a standard, D. I hinge to one side of standard D, as shown, a series of arms, a, each one of which reaches out over the face of one of the metallic plates upon the dulcimer A. The ends of said arms a over said metallic plates are provided with balls of wood or other similar material.

Between the hinged ends of the arms a and the dulcimer is interposed a standard, 0, having upon its upper edge an elastic cushion, cl, upon which the arms a rest, as seen in Fig.2, causing the balls c on the ends of said arms to be lifted clear from the face of the metallic plates on the dulcimer A.'

Just back of the standard 0, I arrange a series of vertically operating posts, i, one for each of the arms a, which run across the top of said posts. In the tops of said posts I insert eyed pins as, through the tops of which said arms run. Said posts '6 are beveled off on their bottom ends, as shown in Fig. 2.

Between the aforesaid hinged connection of arms a to standard D and. pins :20, I attach a rubber or other suitable spring, 0, to each of said arms and to said standard D.

In suitable guideways in frame A, under the lower beveled ends of posts 1', I insert a-pintable, E, adapted to move longitudinally in said frame, actuated by a crank-shaft, F, and a cord, c, attached one end to said table and one end to said crank-shaft, as seen in Fig. 2.

The pin-table E has marked upon its face a series of longitudinal and transverse lines, as seen in Fig. 3. The longitudinal lines maybe increased in number, according to the number of hammers employed in the instrument, and each of the lines represents onenote of the musical scale. The said board E is provided at the intersection of the said horizontal and transverse lines with holes for the reception of the pins 8, and said pins are movable to form such combinations upon table E as may be required to cause the instrument to play a certain tune or melody, and when said table is in its place in frame B one of the longitudinal lines thereon is under the end of each one of the posts 6. A steady-spring, 'r, is attached to frame B, and adapted to bear against the edge of table E to cause it to move ata steady rate of speed under the posts 1'.

The operation of my instrument is as follows: The table E is drawn out of frame B and pins 8 are inserted in the requisite positions in the table to operate upon posts '5 at such intervals as to produce acertain melody. The care required of the operator to properly set the pins in the table demands a certain study of a printed copy of music, in order to transfer it properly to the table, and this practice helps materially to familiarize the operator with music-reading. After the pins have been so arranged upon the table said table is entered between its ways in frame B to the left of crank-shaft F, and cordo is attached to the end of it, as shown. Upon turning the crank-shaft F in the direction indicated by the arrow table E is caused to move longitudinally in frame B, carrying the projecting ends of pins 8 against the beveled ends of posts 1 and as they pass under said posts the latter are lifted up, carrying with them arms a and the balls cagainst the restrainingpower ofsprings 0. Pins 8 pass suddenly by the ends of posts '10 be at once lifted off from them, so that they may vibrate and sound each its musical note.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination with the arms a, of the posts 1?, springs o, and the table E, adapted to 15 receive the movable pins 8 and to be moved under said posts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The table E, having holes in its surface to receive a series of pins, 8, in combination with the posts *5, springs 0, and arms a, adapt- 20 ed to act upon a suitable musical instrument, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination, the table E, provided with the movable pins 8 and adapted to be moved longitudinally in frame B, posts t, 25 springs 0, arms a, and the dulcimer A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In presence of GEO. H. IRELAND.

CHAS. BILL, WM. H. OHAPIN. 

